Joe, As in all things, there are many options.
I boat on a river, so sailing on short tacks is likely. I seldom use the A-sym in winds over 5 or 6 knots. A short description: I have a length of line at the TACK...(about 3 feet with loops at the end and in two other locations) A better way would be to have a shackle with a control line.... Adjusting the length as the angle to the wind changes. Contrary to most published advice, I fly the A-Spin Tack inside the head stay.The Sheets are deployed INSIDE the forestay. But, I do it only when I Single Hand and in light air. When I have crew, I have the tack Outside. The Single Hand procedure is pretty simple and so far, foolproof. All sheets are inside the Forestay. Before I begin my Jibe, I pull the Lazy Sheet (windward) ...IN.... as tight as is prudent. This puts the Clew inside the Fore triangle... Then Beginning the Jibe, I begin release of the leeward sheet. As the stern passes through the Eye of the wind, I quickly sheet home. Jibe is done. When a crew is along, and they are in control of the Jibe, The working sheet is released as the Jibe begins. This allows the Sail to FLY forward of the Head stay (Like a Flag). As soon as it clears the forestay and the jibe is near Stern To the Eye of the wind, The Lazy sheet is hardened up and sheeted home. Jibe done. I found out, painfully, that trying to single hand the Outside Sheeting method, often resulted in a Spin Wrap. And Contrary to what is preached, Falling back to the original tack.. DIDN'T Work ! Too often the sail had tucked some cloth inside of it's self and was stuck. Not much fun went in a tight waterway with pleasure and commercial boats around. Another method of Flying the sail uses the Roller Furled sail as a TACK point. Called the "Tacker" ..ATN sells one. Clever and I understand works very well See: http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html Other methods use a short line with PARREL BEADS that roll up and down the Roller Furler sail. See: http://www.neilprydesails.com/store/beads.htm While the sites show OUTSIDE sheeting, I think it would work with the INSIDE method as well As to the CRANE, I don't use one, but as soon as I can I will have it installed.. The Catalina Direct one. The Crane allows the Block to slide to the working side of the head. With just a Block up there, the halyard is pulling against the Cheeks of the Blocks. So,There's a good chance that the Halyard could Chafe against them. That's my story and I'm sticking to it .. :-) Uniform Whisky, Ralph Ahseln "Oblio" Gresham OR
